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Monday, June 25, 2018

Sri Thelliya Singar Hamsa vahanam 2018

On third day of Brahmothsavam of Sri Azhagiya
Singar (25th June 2018) – it is Garuda vahanam in the morning
and ‘Hamsa Vahanam’ in the evening. The Thiruvallikkeni Hamsa
vahanam is one of the heaviest among the vahanams. The bird Hamsa
is known for its purity and powers. Thirumangai Mannan in his
‘Thirunedunthandagam’ draws a reference to the Hamsa bird.

a beautiful hamsa vahanam at Thirumazhisai

A lamellae in cell
biology, is used to describe numerous plate or concentric layers or disc-like
structures at both a intra-cellular, cellular, tissue and higher level. Granums
in chloroplast are interconnected by intergranal lamellae. They are the sites
of photosystem I. Simply put, lamellae may be considered as multiple parallel
or concentric layers of membranes as in chlorophyll -
relevance here ?!?

The Hamsa, vahanam
of Lord Saraswathi is a familiar leitmotif in Indian art, literature,
sculpture and textiles. It is an aquatic bird that resembles a goose or a swan.
It is reputed to eat pearls and to be able to separate milk from water and
drink only pure milk. The Hamsa represents the perfect harmony
between spirituality and life. Hamsam is attributed qualities of
purity, detachment, divine knowledge, cosmic breath (prana) and highest
spiritual accomplishment.

Water birds separate good
water from the bad water. They have a sieve like structure (lamellae) in its
mouth which separates water from mud. Probably this is what leads to the belief
that Swans can separate milk from water and drink only milk, or perhaps they
really can. In Sanskrit Ksheera means milk and pure water.

Here
are some photos taken during the purappadu. Today being ‘Aani
Anusham’ – it marks the sarrumurai vaibhavam of Acharyar Nathamunigal. A
separate post on Sri Nadamunigal would follow .. .. .. ..
…….